- Title: Unsafe sex: Argentina crisis deflates condom sales as costs rise
- Date: 19th September 2019
- Summary: SAN MARTIN, BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE, ARGENTINA (SEPTEMBER 18, 2019) (REUTERS) PRODUCTION LINE AT CONDOM FACTORY EMPLOYEES AT FACTORY VARIOUS OF CONDOMS ON PRODUCTION LINE REUTERS INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT OF KOPELCO, A CONDOM MANUFACTURER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT OF KOPELCO, FELIPE KOPELOWICH, SAYING: "In recent years we have seen consumption fall. Purchases (from the state) have remained but commercial sales have decreased. In our case with Tulipan (condom brand), it's not a market leader, we've seen sales (historically) increase but generally speaking they (sales) are (now) falling. This year we're seeing a record drop of 7%, 8% in volume and it's obviously because of the two issues we discussed, the economic situation and the lack of use of condoms amongst youth because there are only a few prevention campaigns." BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (SEPTEMBER 17, 2019) (REUTERS) PEDESTRIANS ON STREET COUPLE SITTING ON THE GROUND TOGETHER PEOPLE IN PARK PEOPLE SITTING ON BENCH BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (RECENT - SEPTEMBER 13, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SECRETARY GENERAL OF PHARMACEUTICALS TRADE UNION IN HIS OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SECRETARY GENERAL OF PHARMACEUTICALS TRADE UNION, MARCELO PERETTA, SAYING: "The crisis has further aggravated (the situation) because people don't even have money to buy medicines or condoms. Besides the cost of condoms, 150 (Argentine pesos) (approximately $2.50), more than 200 (pesos) (approximately $3.30) for three condoms. The reality is in the world they are much cheaper. The World Health Organisation recommends a price of 50 cents (U.S.), no more than that. So they shouldn't be more than 30 Argentine pesos." BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (SEPTEMBER 17, 2019) (REUTERS) RED CROSS OFFICES SIGN THAT READS, "FREE CONTRACEPTION" FREE CONDOMS PAMPHLETS ON SAFE SEX REUTERS INTERVIEW WITH THE HEALTH SECRETARY FOR THE ARGENTINE RED CROSS, ALEJANDRO COSTA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HEALTH SECRETARY FOR THE ARGENTINE RED CROSS, ALEJANDRO COSTA, SAYING: "What we have observed over the long term is that when the Red Cross actively moves to different neighbourhoods and communities, requests for contraception via (free) condoms has gone up." PEDESTRIANS ON STREET CONVENIENCE STORE CONDOMS AT STORE QUILMES, BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE, ARGENTINA (SEPTEMBER 18, 2019) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF PHARMACY CONTRACEPTION AT PHARMACY CHEMIST AT WORK AT PHARMACY (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHEMIST, EMILIANO DI ILIO, SAYING: "People come in, they ask about prices and they can't pay, they can't (afford it) or don't want to (buy it). We're all taking into account the current economic situation. And especially in the area of contraception, prophylactics it (sales) has dropped. Prophylactics have dropped 20% from August to September and for contraception, general brands (have dropped) 25%." SAN MARTIN, BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE, ARGENTINA (SEPTEMBER 18, 2019) (REUTERS) EMPLOYEES AT CONDOM FACTORY CONDOMS ON PRODUCTION LINE VARIOUS OF CONDOMS BEING PACKED CONDOM PACKS
- Embargoed: 3rd October 2019 15:16
- Keywords: condoms contraception safe sex Argentina Buenos Aires economy recession
- Location: SAN MARTIN / QUILMES, BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE AND BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
- City: SAN MARTIN / QUILMES, BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE AND BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
- Country: Argentina
- Topics: Society/Social Issues,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA001AXBP07B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: In South America's capital of romance, Argentine lovers are cutting back on one important cost: contraception.
Amid a biting recession, a sharp currency devaluation and painful inflation, sales of condoms and birth control pills have tumbled, pharmacists and manufacturers say.
South American's No. 2 economy is expected to shrink 2.6% this year and is grappling with 50%-plus annual inflation. The peso currency has lost two thirds of its value against the dollar since the start of 2018, hammering imports and consumption.
Domestic sales of cars, wines and meat have dipped as wallets have been squeezed. Industry sources estimated condom sales are down 8% since the start of the year compared to 2018, and have fallen by a quarter over recent months as the economic crisis has worsened.
Most condoms, or the materials needed to make them, are imported, so a weaker currency has an immediate impact on the price, up some 36% since the start of the year, said Felipe Kopelowicz, president of Kopelco, manufacturer of Tulipan and Gentleman condom brands.
Sales of birth control pill sales are also down - 6% for the year and by a fifth more recently, pharmacists said.
Public health experts said the issue could aggravate levels of sexually transmitted disease.
The government does distribute free condoms in public hospitals, but few know about it.
Argentina's Ministry of Health did not respond to requests for comment from Reuters.
Emiliano Di Ilio, a pharmacist working in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, told Reuters that steep inflation had caused sales of condoms and contraceptive pills in his pharmacy to fall by 20% and 25% respectively in the last two months.
"People come, ask the price, and then just leave," he said.
(Production: Miguel Lo Bianco, Horacio Soria, Juan Bustamante) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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